Shloka 5
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
ततः स्वयंवरे तस्मिन् सम्प्रवृत्ते महोत्सवे । समाजम्मुर्न॒पतय: कन्यार्थे नृपसत्तम,नृपश्रेष्ठ वह स्वयंवरमहोत्सव आरम्भ होनेपर राजकन्याको पानेके लिये जो बहुत-से नरेश वहाँ पधारे थे, उनके नाम इस प्रकार हैं
tataḥ svayaṃvare tasmin sampravṛtte mahotsave | samājamamur nṛpatayaḥ kanyārthe nṛpasattama ||
ହେ ନୃପଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ତାପରେ ସେହି ସ୍ୱୟଂବର ମହୋତ୍ସବ ଆରମ୍ଭ ହେବା ସହିତ ରାଜକନ୍ୟାକୁ ପାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ନରେଶ ସେଠାରେ ଏକତ୍ର ହେଲେ।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic social institution—svayaṃvara—where marriage is framed as a public, rule-governed choice. It implicitly points to the ethical pressures around power, status, and desire when many rulers compete for one bride under societal norms.
Nārada describes the beginning of a grand svayaṃvara festival and notes that numerous kings have gathered with the aim of winning the princess, preparing the listener for the forthcoming list of suitors and ensuing events.